At first hint of spring, birds begin to return

Published: Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 6:48 p.m.

Spring in the North Carolina mountains is like a breath of warm air. You can smell the first wildflowers and hear the songs of the first spring birds.

After the brown coldness of winter, all birders probably celebrate spring more than most folks I know of.

It was a chilly, gorgeous spring morning the day our birding group met. We began at Van Wingerden in Mills River, where song sparrows always seem to be the first birds to sing in the chilly mornings.

Swamp and savannah sparrows are just winter visitors to our area, but at this time of the year, we sometimes get to hear their spring songs as well for just a brief few weeks. Swamp sparrows tend to hide in the thickets, but savannah sparrows are always in the open, their lisping songs barely giving away their locations.

We also saw several gleaming Eastern meadowlarks, their bright yellow breasts catching the sun’s rays. These birds are always associated with the open fields, but in many areas of the mountains, their songs seem to be a thing of the past as more and more open fields give way to marching development.

The wastewater treatment plant in Mills River is always a great place to check for waterfowl, and this winter it has been home to quite a few ducks. Today we had both lesser scaup and bufflehead, both of which are diving ducks. They spend most of their time under the water as they feed on small crustaceans and plant materials.

Swallows are often amongst the first birds to arrive and seem to epitomize spring. We found both tree and northern rough-winged swallows as they skimmed the pond’s surface looking for insects.

On nearby Hooper Lane, we were treated to excellent views of northbound migrant pectoral sandpipers and Wilson’s snipe as they moved north feeding on invertebrates on the bare ground. American kestrels feed out in the open country, and they are often seen perched on the irrigation system scanning the ground below for insects and other small prey items. They must have been moving north this week as at least three were hunting in the fields that morning.

Many of these birds are wintering species, but we were after newly arriving spring birds. The first to usually arrive are the energetic and hyperactive blue-gray gnatcatchers. These tiny birds are surprisingly hardy for their size, and it’s not uncommon for them to be back way before the start of warm weather. How they can find enough insect food to eat is always surprising.

Another early arrival that we heard and saw briefly was the Louisiana waterthrush. As they are associated with freshwater rivers, they can easily arrive back before the onset of leaf cover, and their loud ringing songs are perfect for broadcasting over the sound of rushing water.

It won’t be long now before our woodlands and forests are alive with spring birds, and we just got a taste of that. We have many more day trips planned for the spring, and all have been designed to see and enjoy as many spring birds as possible, as well as wildflowers and butterflies, which all add to our enjoyment of spring.

<p>Spring in the North Carolina mountains is like a breath of warm air. You can smell the first wildflowers and hear the songs of the first spring birds.</p><p>After the brown coldness of winter, all birders probably celebrate spring more than most folks I know of.</p><p>It was a chilly, gorgeous spring morning the day our birding group met. We began at Van Wingerden in Mills River, where song sparrows always seem to be the first birds to sing in the chilly mornings.</p><p>Swamp and savannah sparrows are just winter visitors to our area, but at this time of the year, we sometimes get to hear their spring songs as well for just a brief few weeks. Swamp sparrows tend to hide in the thickets, but savannah sparrows are always in the open, their lisping songs barely giving away their locations.</p><p>We also saw several gleaming Eastern meadowlarks, their bright yellow breasts catching the sun's rays. These birds are always associated with the open fields, but in many areas of the mountains, their songs seem to be a thing of the past as more and more open fields give way to marching development.</p><p>The wastewater treatment plant in Mills River is always a great place to check for waterfowl, and this winter it has been home to quite a few ducks. Today we had both lesser scaup and bufflehead, both of which are diving ducks. They spend most of their time under the water as they feed on small crustaceans and plant materials.</p><p>Swallows are often amongst the first birds to arrive and seem to epitomize spring. We found both tree and northern rough-winged swallows as they skimmed the pond's surface looking for insects.</p><p>On nearby Hooper Lane, we were treated to excellent views of northbound migrant pectoral sandpipers and Wilson's snipe as they moved north feeding on invertebrates on the bare ground. American kestrels feed out in the open country, and they are often seen perched on the irrigation system scanning the ground below for insects and other small prey items. They must have been moving north this week as at least three were hunting in the fields that morning.</p><p>Many of these birds are wintering species, but we were after newly arriving spring birds. The first to usually arrive are the energetic and hyperactive blue-gray gnatcatchers. These tiny birds are surprisingly hardy for their size, and it's not uncommon for them to be back way before the start of warm weather. How they can find enough insect food to eat is always surprising.</p><p>Another early arrival that we heard and saw briefly was the Louisiana waterthrush. As they are associated with freshwater rivers, they can easily arrive back before the onset of leaf cover, and their loud ringing songs are perfect for broadcasting over the sound of rushing water.</p><p>It won't be long now before our woodlands and forests are alive with spring birds, and we just got a taste of that. We have many more day trips planned for the spring, and all have been designed to see and enjoy as many spring birds as possible, as well as wildflowers and butterflies, which all add to our enjoyment of spring.</p>